The Many Faces Of Michael J. Fox

Published 4 years ago
by
Roth Cornet
, Updated March 3rd, 2014 at 6:44 am,

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Back To The Future, the entire trilogy was re-released on a special edition Blu-ray DVD this week. In addition, AMC theatres held select screenings of the original film on 158 screens in over 40 cities.

Fans of Back To The Future came out to celebrate and revisit the iconic characters created in the films: Chistopher Lloyd as the lovable mad scientist, Doc Brown; Crispin Glover as the quintessential geek-hero, George McFly; Thomas F. Wilson as the equally quintessential bully-who-gets-his, Biff Tannen; Lea Thompson as Marty’s (sometimes disturbingly) super-sexy mom, Lorraine; and of course, Michael J. Fox as the young, old and young again, Marty McFly.

Michael J Fox’s career spans nearly 40 years and includes some of the most memorably charming characters ever to be captured on celluloid (well, back then it was mostly still celluloid). From Alex P. Keaton to Brantley Foster to Spin City’s Mike Flaherty, Michael J. Fox is always somehow relatable and likable, even when his characters are committing what may be some less-than-savory acts. Those qualities are what made him the perfect choice to portray the appealing, and often excitable, Marty McFly.

He captivated audiences with his portrayal of the every-man/boy, and it’s hard to imagine any other actor in that career-defining role, but, as has oft been discussed of late (and as all of us BTTF nerds know), Michael J. Fox took over the role of Marty five weeks into production on Back To The Future.

Although Fox was always the first choice, scheduling conflicts with Family Ties forced director Robert Zemeckis to hire Eric Stoltz to play the role. A little over a month into production, Zemeckis felt that he wasn’t getting what he needed from Stoltz, and made the switch to Fox. As part of the Back to the Future anniversary Blu-ray, the film’s creators talk about the casting shift, and why Fox was so fundamental to the success of the franchise.

Take a look at this clip from the feature:

Robert Zemeckis compares Fox to Jimmy Stewart, and the likening feels apropos. Fox has a quality that illustrates, and inspires us to believe in, the best parts of ourselves. He is not a mythic and out of touch hero, but an ordinary man who is living his life in extraordinary ways.

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The Power Of Love:

Michael J Fox represents the opposite of the Emo-lethargy of so many angst-ridden teenage characters and tales today. Whatever he did, he did enthusiastically. An Alex P. Keaton sans Michael J. Fox’s humor may have been an insufferable stuffed shirt, but with it, Alex became the most dynamic and beloved character on Family Ties.

In a New York Times article about the DVD release of the sitcom (which ran on NBC from 1982-1989) writer Susan Stewart theorizes that the show “probably wouldn’t have lasted two seasons without Michael J. Fox in his defining role as the Reagan-loving, tie-wearing teenager Alex P. Keaton.”

The series was created as a vehicle for Meredith Baxter-Birney and Michael Gross, who played Fox’s ultra liberal, ex-hippie parents, charged with raising some traditional-to-outright-conservative children. None of the children were more conservative, or more hilarious, than the big business and Nixon-worshiping Alex.

He was silly, and charming. and smart. He did not just love money, he loved money as some might love a puppy…or their newborn. Everything he did was underscored with a genuinely affectionate nature, that affable quality combined with his quick-wit and comedic timing swooped in to steal the show.

Take a look at this clip where Alex inspires a brand new generation of Republicans:

@Roth I was just wondering why, but it wasnt really an issue in the slightest, far from it infact. I ment it when I said it was a Good article a very enjoyable read,
I’d be nice to read more like this most definitly

Oh yeah, thanks! I didn’t take that in a bad way at all. It’s just always interesting to think about what to include when you are writing about something that covers so much time. I guess I went with the ones that sort of tell the story of his style/career most clearly…The Frightners, like Light Of Day, were both kind of departures, (though they are very different movies) but I guess could have gotten their own categories.

I do love Peter Jackson when he directs movies like this – Heavenly Creatures is one of my absolute favorites.

@Jessie I respect your point but I stand by mine, I personally find the film a tad Generic in terms of pace & story telling (not saying it’s not without merit after all M.J.Fox Is in it) but it’s simply not my cup of tea

Thanks! Yeah I loved that clip when I found it :), so quintessentially Alex :). I remembered how much I love his work writing this. As for The Frigteners — I mentioned to Fadge, that here was some discussion about which films to include, and the ones mentioned just seemed the most representative of his career path . I did think about The Frighteners though ;).

Man Roth, what a great thread! I will have to find Family Ties on the net; when I saw that FT clip, I had to look around and make sure no one heard me laugh. Wow, such fond memories of such a great show.

I would also like to mention The American President. Sure, Fox wasn’t the star but anyone who has seen that movie know he was a big part of it.

Michael J. Fox did a good job playing Marty McFly in 3 Back to the Future films and I do appreciate him being the best actor. I have sense of personality like him time traveling from 1985 to 1955 in Part I, and Part 2 He time travels from 1985 to 2015 and back to 1955 where Older Biff wanted to find every solution to Marty McFly’s past and future. In Part III He time travels from 1955 to 1885 in the Wild West era and meet up with Emmett Brown.

Part 4 should say “Return to the Future” for Marty McFly, Jr (The Son of Marty McFly) discovering his father that they both turn back from the past to the present time. Its like Indiana Jones meeting with his son in INDINA JONES 4. See in Part 2, When Marty McFly time travels to the year 2015, how he aged to an old man. That will give the screenwriter David Koepp of INDIANA JONES 4 to do.

MJF is done with acting though, it takes too big of a toll out on him, did you see him at the Scream? I applaud him for coming out there and just being there for the fans, but you could just tell it took all he had just maintain control Parkinsons is just eating away at him bigtime.

i do miss Family Ties, there will never be, nor has there ever been a show like that on TV.

Yeah I saw scream I thought it was preety bad to see how his illness has been taking a toll on him recently(especially his speech). plus christopher lloyd barly said anything either which looked wierd as hell,
Although I saw -in the actors studio when he was on it and he seemed alot better health wise

Nothing but love and admiration for Michael J. Fox. He is fantastic. And thanks for reminding me about his second book — I was so impressed with his first one; I need to read the second!

I’ve been a fan of his since Family Ties, and Back To The Future, and Spin City, and American President, and and and… he’s wonderfully talented, and with his dedication to the Parkinson’s fight he’s also amazingly strong. I can’t say enough about him. Thank you so much for this tribute to the man and his work.

P.S. It makes me want to rewatch Back To The Future and Family Ties. *big smile*

“The Frighteners” was one of MJF’s best films, I can’t believe this was up for debate?
^
MJF, class act, loved his heath related/symbolic epoc performance in “Rescue Me!”,,,

Amazing inside performance when he’s describing his crippling event to Tommy Gaven. Its a total mirror of his real life/career. In a way very inside and revealing, if your read between the lines/script its a very touching performance!
:/